Concern about fall zone of proposed Allentown cell tower delays vote

Proposed 154-foot tower could land on residences if it fell.

May 06, 2013|By Emily Opilo, Of The Morning Call | By Emily Opilo, Of The Morning Call

Allentown's Zoning Hearing Board delayed a decision on a proposed wireless tower in the city's east side Monday after a review showed the 154-foot structure could land on nearby residential properties if it were to fall.

Verizon Wireless has proposed building the tower on a portion of a property at 317-343 S. Dauphin Street, leased from current owner Elite Tire International. A 50-foot by 50-foot compound would be built on the southeastern corner of the property, leaving room for the property owners to further expand their business during the lease term if needed, said Catherine E.N. Durso, an attorney representing the project.

While Verizon can currently provide service to the majority of residents on Allentown's east side, the new tower is needed to handle the increased demand for cellphone service and, in particular, data capabilities such as 4G LTE, Durso said.

To build the tower at the proposed location, Verizon would need several variances, including one for the required setback from all property lines. Officials have proposed building the compound only 27 feet from one line, while regulations require 77 feet. Plans also call for the tower to be only 113 feet from the nearest residential district, while zoning regulations call for at least 300 feet.

Board member Scott Unger said the proximity to the residential neighborhood is of particular concern. Variances should be granted in a case of a hardship, he said. But locating the cell tower on the edge of the property is only a matter of convenience for the property owner.

If the tower were to fall, 41 feet could land on residential properties on Ellsworth Street. Unger recommended representatives from Verizon speak to the property owners about resituating the tower at least that many feet farther toward the center of the property.

"I would be very uncomfortable with confiscating someone else's property as a fall zone for a cell tower," he said.

Four residents attended Monday's meeting to object to the plan. Charles Callaway of 502 Ellsworth St. said his home would be in the path of the tower should it fall.

Andrew Petersohn, an engineer for the project, said the odds of the tower failing are very slim.

But there are a number of problems with the proposal, Callaway said, presenting the board with a group of studies about the health risk of cell towers, particularly to children. The proximity to an elementary school should be a concern, he said.

Durso objected to Callaway's submission, saying that the studies were unfounded. Radio frequency from the tower would be 280 times lower than levels permitted by the Federal Communications Commission, Petersohn said.

Chairman Dan McCarthy accepted Callaway's submission, but said the board cannot consider medical evidence. A decision on the tower will be postponed until Verizon representatives can speak to the property owners about moving the tower toward the center of the property.